Game-calculator having sliding mask

Abstract

A game-calculator having a single housing for a handheld calculator and an electronic game each sharing the same display, with a sliding mask to alternatively cover in a first or second position either the calculator keyboard input keys, or both the game input keys and that portion of the display panel not used to display the calculator functions, with the slide also serving to position a switch which is coupled to the programmed data processor, responsive to movement of the slide from the first position to the second position, or vice versa.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A game-calculator having a programmed data processor for controlling the calculator and the game functions, comprising: a housing having a game end and a calculator end;   the calculator end having a plurality of calculator inputs;   the game end having a display panel and a plurality of game inputs;   a slide member, slideably mounted on the housing and of a size sufficieant to cover the plurality of calculator inputs when positioned at the calculator end, and to cover the display panel and the plurality of game inputs when positioned at the game end;   an opening in the slide, positioned to expose the portion of the display panel employed in displaying the operation of the game-calculator as a calculator.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a switch, selectively activated by the position of the slide member, the switch being coupled to an input to the data processor to thereby activate the calculator functions or the game functions in response to the position of the switch.   
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the housing is formed with a longitudinally extending groove on opposed sides thereof; and   the slide has a generally "U" shaped cross-section with a pair of opposed longitudinally extending feet at the terminal ends of the "U" shaped cross-sections, which feet slideably engage a respective one of the grooves.   
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein: the housing is formed with a longitudinally extending groove on opposed sides therof; and   the slide has a generally "U" shaped cross-section with a pair of opposed longitudinally extending feet at the terminal ends of the "U" shaped cross-sections, which feet slideably engage a respective one of the grooves.   
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein: the slide member has a pair of protrusions; and   the switch is a slide switch operated by a respective one of the protrusions engaging the switch when the slide member is moved from one of the game end and calculator end to the other.   
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein: the slide member has a pair of protrusions; and   the switch is a slide switch operated by a respective one of the protrusions engaging the switch when the slide member is moved from one of the game end and calculator end to the other.   
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claims 5 or 6 wherein the switch is coupled to a single programmed data processor and the program for the game functions is employed when the switch is in one of the first and the second positions and the program for the calculator functions is enabled when the switch is in the other of the first and the second positions. 
     
     
       8. A game-calculator having a programmed data processor for controlling the calculator and the game functions, comprising; a housing having a game portion and a calculator portion;   the calculator portion having a plurality of calculator inputs;   a masking means for selectively covering the plurality of calculator inputs when in a first position and the display panel and the plurality of game inputs when in a second position, the masking means having an opening therein for exposing that portion of the display panel employed in displaying calculator functions of the game calculator when the masking means is in the second position.